[B-Greek] Initial oversimplified rules (was "Aspect of the Aorist!")
Randall Buth
randallbuth at gmail.com
Fri Feb 12 11:35:55 EST 2010
Georgo
>>I would recommend a classical grammar. It is not that I think one must know the history of a language in order to understand writings of a later time. It is rather that classical grammars simply do a better job. >>
>
Mann
>In what specific ways are classical grammars superior? If one uses a classical grammar, is it then necessary to also work >through a koine grammar in order to read the NT text? Thanks. >
I'm pretty much on board with what Carl said, and agree with George, too.
The main problem with "Koine" grammars is that they are too restricted.
The "NT" grammars simply aren't wide enough to show the full language
being used at the time, due to the "accidental" nature of the pieces that
made it into the canon or other small corpus. The Hellenistic grammars
of papyrii are also a bit too restricted, leaving out the massive attestations
of Josephus, Polybius, Dion, Plutarch, Epictetus, and friends.
Having said that, there is the other side. A classical grammar must list
all sorts of epic and poetic forms that were no longer in use.
There is almost always another side, isn't there?
So get Smyth, Goodwin
(my copy has blearer print and is more compact than Smyth),
BDF, Mouton-Howard, and Gignac, but more importantly read what you
enjoy, alot,
and TALK your Greek 'buddies'.
ERRWSQE
--
Randall Buth, PhD
www.biblicalulpan.org
randallbuth at gmail.com
Biblical Language Center
Learn Easily - Progress Further - Remember for Life
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